Heavenly Mission communicated to the Dauphin--Maid at
the head of Troops--Her Achievements--Siege of
Orleans--Great Victories--Dauphin Crowned--Jeanne's
Desire to retire into Private Life--Opposition to her
Retirement--The Maid's Feats of Valour--Heroine
Betrayed--Charmed Sword--Jeanne's Surrender--King's
Ingratitude--Great Rejoicing at the Maid's
Downfall--Attempt to Escape--Trial and
Condemnation--Maid Burned--A white Dove rising from
her Ashes--Imitators--Unreliable Reports.

France, like her neighbouring nations, entertained strong opinions in
regard to superstition; and so did the high dignitaries of Rome. Pope
John XXII. is celebrated in the history of sorcery and magic. He
believed that sorcery had been resorted to to procure his untimely
death, soon after his accession to the Papacy, by the Bishop of
Chahors, the Pope's native place. The bishop being brought before the
College of Cardinals, was, after deposition from his holy office,
delivered to the secular powers in Avignon to receive punishment. A
cruel fate awaited him; the unfortunate bishop being first skinned
alive, next torn by horses, and then burned. Pope John continued to
persecute persons suspected of sorcery, and many an unhappy creature
suffered at his suggestion.

In the spring of 1321 King Philippe summoned the States-General to
meet at Poictiers, and proceeded in person to Poitou to hold his court
there. Soon after the assembly of the Estates, information was given
to the king that the lepers, of whom there were many in the place, had
entered into a conspiracy to poison and bewitch the springs throughout
Aquitaine, in order to kill the Christians, or reduce them to the same
state of loathsome disease as they themselves suffered. Some who were
arrested admitted, under torture, the accusation. The king became so
greatly alarmed that he fled from Poitou, after giving orders to
arrest and imprison all the lepers in France. Multitudes of them were
condemned and burned; still the king thirsted for more blood. Jews
were also accused of aiding to poison and bewitch the wells. At Chinon
upwards of one hundred Jews suffered the extreme penalty of the law
for such groundless crimes. After a show of trial, and trumped-up
charges equally false, many more Jews and lepers were put to death in
Paris.

Dentists will be surprised to learn that in bygone days none but those
acquainted with occult